Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer $15-million aid for Ebola

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to offer $15 million in aid to combat the Ebola virus epidemic. The decision could be announced during Modi’s visit to the US, according to government sources.

Last week, US President Barack Obama had appealed to all nations to help provide equipment, health workers and money to contain the virus, which has claimed more than 2,800 lives in the affected West African nations since March this year. Modi’s US visit falls in the week that marks six months of the World Health Organisation’s notification of the Ebola outbreak.

Announcing the deployment of 3,000 military personnel in West Africa on September 16, Obama had called on other countries to join the effort to control the exponential spread of the deadly virus, which causes hemorrhagic fever.

The sources quoted earlier said Obama’s appeal was discussed at a meeting held by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth this week in which it was proposed that the Indian government should commit $15 million as aid to the UN to combat Ebola’s spread.

In a statement issued before his departure to the US on Thursday, the PM said Ebola is one of the many “pressing challenges” for the international community.